NeuroTalk Support Groups - Shoes for Neuropathy

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- Peripheral Neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/)

- - Shoes for Neuropathy (https://www.neurotalk.org/peripheral-neuropathy/217154-shoes-neuropathy.html)

These shoes were made for walking ...

Hi Jeff
Understand your problem - has taken me ages to find shoes. I live rural, in a small country, so my options are limited (yes I could order online but with my feet I really need to try before I buy). I agree with Susanne C. about shoes not making much difference to the burning - it's a case of finding ones that don't add to the problem and are comfortable. Like you I prefer leather over synthetic - leather breathes. Although I haven't got any myself, during my search I found a brand called Dr Comfort (I know they're available in US) they make for both men and women - casual, dress and athletic styles - although a limited range but a variety of sizes. A lot of people with arthritis use them. For athletic shoes I wear a men's New Balance or Avia - not perfect but I really only wear them for physio and again they were chosen for comfort (and price). Most comfortable shoes I've had were a pair of Stegmann sandals (German I think) leather with cork soles (similar to Birkenstocks), with fully adjustable straps. Stegmann make both men & womens. Has taken me 18 mths to find a suitable replacement as my feet deteriorate but recently got a brand called Taos - again adjustable straps but sole is leather over synthetic. So far so good. For the ladies following this thread there is a brand called Ziera from New Zealand (they only do women's shoes) but have a number of orthopedic styles. Quality is good - I have a pair of winter shoes that have lasted 5 years - plain black leather lace-ups - dull but practical and comfortable. Hope this is useful and good luck with your search.

People with high insteps are going to have more problems I think than others. That high instep creates strain on the toes and balls of the feet. That seems to be my problem. I have to have very thick tongues in my tie shoes for this reason.

I've tried many different shoes for my burning soles, and they all start to aggravate the pain after a while. I've had the best luck with Birkenstocks, with or without socks. The wide toe is key for me, and I don't seem to get as much friction from the insole. The open back with the clogs keeps the feet from getting overheated. This may be obvious--and not always practical--but the best luck I've had is to wear shoes that slip off easily and get my feet out of them as often as I can. Also, for me changing shoes several times during the day is helpful.

Dr. Comfort work shoes for men has a wide/roomy toe box and is comfortable. A person I know has them.

The Only Shoes I Wear

I have high arches which creates extra pressure on the heel and the metatarsal area (ball of the foot). I have custom soft orthotics that are made from cast molds. My orthotist first has me step into a box of very soft foamy material, which he creates the mold from. Luckily, my insurance pays for a new set of these orthotics every year. Otherwise, the cost would be typically around $400.

My actual foot size is 11 1/2 D, but the shoes I buy are 13 6E. The shoes I finally settled on after extensive trial on error, are training shoes manufactured by New Balance. The current NB model number is the 857.

http://www.newbalance.com/pd/new-bal...hite_with_Navy

They come black or white. Best of luck in your search...

SHOES Shoes shoes...

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomilehigh (Post 1128453)

I'm new to this board and I need help. I suffer from the severe foot pain. I recently when to see a new Podiatrist, the 6th in the last 15 years and he said I needed a different pair of shoes.

The last Podiatrist I saw told me that all leather Brooks shoes were best neuropathy shoe for me. He said I needed to get them 2 to 3 times larger in size (13 1/2) the toe box and get a 4EEE width. I've spent hundreds of dollars and tried many different shoes over the years and none have really helped ease the burning pain I feel in my feet if I wear them any length of time but the Brooks shoe has been better than some of the others I've tried.

The new Podiatrist said the Brooks shoes I was wearing were to big and that I should buy a new pair of a shorter length but keep the same width size. He recommended Aztec's but I couldn't find any all leather sneakers or dress shoes on the web that I think would work for me.

It seems like every new Podiatrist I've seen has a different theory on shoes and how to manage the pain symptoms. It's very frustrating that there isn't a common standard Podiatrist's can recommend for shoes. I understand that opinions vary on relieving pain symptoms but on shoes there should be more of a consensus.

So my question here is what shoes do you wear? I'm open to any suggestions. I do much better wearing all leather shoes. I've tried different shoes that have mesh material on the top or sides and found they don't take long to start making my feet burn. So I'd eliminate them from consideration.

I'm so desperate to get a shoe that works better for me. The Brooks shoe has been better than some but there must be better ones. Please don't post links for shoes, trust me I've looked all over the web at just about every shoe made. What I want is good advice from people that suffer from neuropathy and can give me real world information on the shoes that have worked for them.

I understand that anyone that makes a suggestion is only that and I don't hold anyone accountable for the choice I make because after all it is my choice.

Thanks... Jeff

Dang - had lots of answers for you and then I realized you are a man! I have had the best luck with Softwalk shoes for dress shoes but when my feet were REALLY bad in the beginning I wore Pedors - they are pretty ugly, but no seams at all and they protect your feet from the elements so it was a God send for me. Previously I was in slippers for two years - this company makes shoes for both sexes. A new shoe I found is from Aravon- which is a New Balance company. If you sign up with Zappos you can get overnight shipping to your home free and free shipping back - this works for me as trying on shoes at a store is very painful, at home you can do it at your leisure. I always try the two widest sizes and I order a size bigger too. Best of luck!

elastic shoe laces - what a difference

feet still hurt but that little bit of extra room is very welcome

The elastic shoe laces are wonderful, I agree! I use the curly ones which I believe are for kids. ( I get mine at Famous Footwear) If you lace them right you can can just slip into the
shoes and not need to tie them even! ;)

There is an alternate lacing pattern too, that helps reduce compression on that instep...every other eyehole in the shoe.
I use that too.

http://www.northcoastfootcare.com/pa...echniques.html

Quote:

Originally Posted by gomilehigh (Post 1128453)

I have been wearing sketcher soft gel sneakers for a couple of years. They slip right on.. no laces to mess with..wide toe...It is like walking on a cloud. They are light, as well. I wait for a good coupon or sale at the outlet store online and stock up. They are awesome!!

Hi Coriny
Glad to hear the Sketchers sneakers work for you - isn't it great when you finally get shoes that 'work'. I tried the Sketchers but couldn't even get them on my feet due to having high arches and they had little stretch in the upper (I think we're talking the same shoe). Would love to be able to find something like that - comfortable and casual. Looking for a new pair at the moment suitable for spring or autumn (fall) weather - something to slip on if I'm just going into town but it looks like rain and I don't want to get my feet wet. Wet feet = slippery = falls. Have enough of those at home without doing it in public!